GARDENING Plenty to plant right now
FIVE PLANTS CAUGHT THE EYE AT THE SA NURSERY ASSOCIATION’S ANNUAL SPRING SHOW Now that winter is over, add some colour to your garden to celebrate spring’s arrival.
his past week’s cold snap was winter’s last gasp before spring, and if your fingers are itching to get back into the soil, there is plenty to plant right now.
At last week’s SA Nursery Association’s annual spring show, all the growers displayed their best spring flowers and these five spring annuals stole the show.
– mini-snapdragons – “Snapshot”, “Snappy” and “Twinny” (double flowers) – are available in such an incredible range of colours that they fit into any garden, providing instant spring colour right through to December.
Each short, compact plant produces a mass of blooms. They can go into beds, containers, window boxes and even hanging baskets.
They like sun and fertile, well-prepared soil that drains well. Space plants 15cm apart. Cut down after flowering and they will send up new shoots for another flush.
The snapdragon has two unusual ways of attracting bees. During the day, when pollinators are busy, it produces four times more scent than at night. You’ll notice that most snapdragon flowers include a dash of yellow, which bees can easily see and acts as a landing guide for them.
– Stocks, like snapdragons, is an old-fashioned flower that has come around again because of its strong perfume.
Stocks “Hot Cakes” and “Vintage” are taller growers (40 to 50cm high) and both have double flowers displayed in thick clusters on spike-like stems that last well in the vase. Pinching back the growing tips when planting will encourage the plant to branch, which produces more flowers.
They are easy to grow bedding plants, good gap fillers for the middle of a bed, behind low growing spring flowers like violas and pansies.
Plant in full sun, in moist, fertile soil and water regularly. Fertilise once a month with Vigorosa to encourage flowering.
– ranunculus are showy spring bulbs that should be planted in April for a show in August. But with the new range of pot Ranunculus ‘“Mache”, that is no longer necessary.
The orange, yellow and scarlet flowers stand out against the dark green foliage. This container-grown variety likes partial sun, regular watering and can also be kept indoors in good light. Plants grow 30cm high and 25cm wide.
Remove dead blooms and fertilise with a liquid feed to extend the flowering period.
– Osteospermum (Cape daisies) have overtaken all others as the top performing spring flowers. They are shortlived perennials, which means that if last year’s plants are looking ragged, rather pull them out and replace them.
The colour range seems to expand exponentially, which is another reason for opting for something new.
The new hybrids, like Serenity “Blue Eyed Beauty”, “Bronze” and “Rose Magic” are compact, showing off best when massed, or used as a border or in containers. The flowers are strong and weather tolerant and make a flush in spring and again in autumn.
Plant in full sun to partial shade. Plants are drought tolerant, requiring regular deep but infrequent watering. – argyranthemum “Madeira” is the new prototype of the old-fashioned daisy bush. It grows into a medium-sized rounded bush (46cm high and wide) that holds its shape and doesn’t fall open or grow too big. Pink seems to be the in-colour this year; crested hot pink, deep pink or a soft lilac pink. Use two or three to fill gaps in the garden, plant individually in containers, or make a show in a large, sunny bed. Argyranthemum do best in full sun and are hardy enough to also cope with hot afternoon sun. Water deeply and regularly and trim with hedge shears after flowering for new flowers.
– Once seen never forgotten as the saying goes! Certainly colourful Ranunculus Mache will leave you gasping at the sheer perfection of each bloom. Prefers cooler conditions and being in a pot.
Mix large bright orange, scarlet and yellow blooms, dark green refined foliage on mounded plants that reach a garden height of 30-40 cm, spreading 25-30 cm. Prefers partial sun/shade, cool temperatures.